If someday you’ll be in one of those game shows and the random million-dollar question is “Who won the 1994 PBA Governor’s Cup Best Player of Conference (BPC) plum?” this piece of information will take you to the bank.
Peripheral Vision: June 19
Stay snarky, Pop
The town was painted silver and black as the Spurs celebrated their fifth NBA championship with the traditional city-wide motorcade. There were plenty of cheers to go around as the thousands of fans whooped it up with their favorite players. There were plenty of chuckle-generating moments as well, highlighted by Gregg Popovich taking a hilarious jab at LeBron’s infamous multiple championships prediction in 2010.
Tweets of the Day: June 19
Amid trade rumors, Kevin Love quietly arrived in Manila on Thursday for a three-day basketball event where he is expected to, as a well-known Filipina sports reporter put it, show off his “signature moves.” We’re not sure if this means K-Love will be doing the Stone Cold Stunner on Chris Tiu or the Tombstone on Marc Pingris, but we’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, here are some Pinoy hoops stars showing Love some, um, love.
Basketball IQ: 11-time NBA champ Bill Russell was never a Finals MVP
It may come as a surprise to you that Kawhi Leonard won the Finals MVP more times than the man the trophy was named after. But to clear things up, the only reason why Russell never won the plum is because the NBA didn’t hand out the award until 1969—his last year in the league.
Peripheral Vision: June 18
STAT – 1, MWP – 0
If you’re an NBA fan, this is the only video you need for today. Metta World Peace gets pranked by former teammate Amar’e Stoudemire on Jimmy Kimmel Live. This is as fantastic as MWP’s Japanese characters-laden gold hair. If this doesn’t get at least a smirk out of you, then you deserve to be hit in the groin by The Player Formerly Known as Ron Artest.
Tweets of the Day: June 17
As the final buzzer of Game 6 of the 2014 NBA Finals sounded, Kawhi Leonard again showed why he is the future of the Spurs while Mario Chalmers still suc…wait a minute.
If, like us, you woke up with a strong urge to stare blankly into space, congratulations, you are suffering from a bad case of NBA withdrawal.
Since there’s not much NBA news to salivate to, here’s looking back at other June 17 moments in NBA history that basketball fanatics were deprived of today (it’s a band-aid solution, we know, but it’s either this or highlights of Brazil and Mexico trying—and failing—to score a goal in 90 minutes).
Peripheral Vision: June 17
The Spurs can count
We’ll just let this—what’s that cool word, swag?—championship shirt do the talking. We all know what the shirt’s referencing.
Tweets of the Day: June 16
I
t’s 2007 all over again as the San Antonio Spurs played perfect basketball against a LeBron James-led team to win the NBA championship. Kawhi Leonard got a well-deserved Finals MVP trophy for scoring on and defending the league’s best player, while said best player gets flak for losing not one, not two, but three finals series in his career. But this probably won’t be the last time LeBron will play in a championship series, so to end the 2013-2014 season on a high note (wink, wink), Twitter trolling presents: Michael Beasley with special guest Mario Chalmers!
Peripheral Vision: June 16
Hug It Out
The real revelation in the Finals is that Kawhi Leonard is actually capable of showing emotions. His celebratory hug with Pops was heartfelt, moving, and filled with gratitude. It was a very special moment for the newly minted Finals MVP. Six years ago today—Father’s Day—his dad was shot to death outside of their carwash business in Compton, California (the case is still unsolved). That’s why the embrace was extremely touching for Kawhi and Pops, who has been nothing but a dear father figure to the entire Spurs.
Tweets of the Day: June 13
S
o Game 4 happened and the defending champs Miami Heat are down 3-1. Pretty boring stuff, really. Aside from Perfect Basketball ™ from the Spurs, Mario Chalmers did Mario Chalmers things, Dwyane Wade did Mario Chalmers things, Kawhi Leonard did LeBron things on LeBron, and Toney Douglas got minutes.
For Game 5, we’re hoping for another blowout if only to see Michael Beasley suit up in garbage time. But with the way the basketball gods have been tripping, it won’t be shocking to see the Big 3–that’s LeBron, Wade, and Bosh in case you’ve forgotten–explode and steal one at the AT&T Center (we’re also still waiting for the Mario Chalmers Redemption Game or the Ray Allen 9 3s Game).